Agudah Denies It “Recognized” West German Government; Says It Did Not Seek Privileges

The European executive of the Agudas Israel organization categorically denied today reports released by the World Jewish Congress alleging that the Agudah executive granted "recognition" to the West German Government and asked that specific privileges be accorded to it.

The Agudah executive explained that the Orthodox organization had protested to the British Foreign Office against the Bonn Government’s intention of setting up a department for Jewish affairs which, the Agudah said, would relegate the Jews in Germany to a minority status.

Simultaneously, the Agudah executive expressed concern to the Bonn Government over its proposal and suggested that "in all matters pertaining to the Jewish community, the German Government should confer with representtives of communal bodies, and in religious matters with a representative of the Rabbinate." The Agudah memorandum pointed out that this procedure had satisfactorily been adopted in the United States and in West European countries.